Parables are meant to be approached from different angles. The different characters bring different perspectives, and they are meant to suck you in. When you can identify with a character, the story comes to life and the meaning is communicated more clearly. A parable has a context and a specific meaning within that context. A truth that points to a bigger truth. Parables are used to describe God's Kingdom because we often lack the language and the knowledge to comprehend God's kingdom in any other way.